Pedal for pianos.



No. 857,638. PATENTED JUNE 25, 1907.

0. LESTINA.

PEDAL FOR PIANOS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR-16' 1907.

W'L'ne'skses fnbenor" 6% yazwfl' {a I '7 Mo 0 rlz/e OTTO LESTINA, OF NEWPORT, KENTUCKY.

PEDAL FOR PIANOS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 25, 1907.

Application filed March 15, 1907. Serial No. 362,546.

To all whmn, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, OTTO LESTINA, a citizen of the United States, residing in New port, in the county of Campbell and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pedals for Pianos and the Like, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My improvements relate to mountings for piano pedals, in which the metal pedal is pivoted to a metal block, or support, and the purpose of the invention is to provide a construction in which the friction at the pivot may be reduced to a minimum, so that all liability of squeaking at the joint may be avoided, and the parts may be kept constantly lubricated throughout the life of' the piano, with an initial lubrication at the time the piano is constructed.

My invention consists of that certain novel construction and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter particularly pointed out and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of my improved pedal mounting, in place on the piano. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of the pedal and mounting. Fig. 3 is a horizontal central section of a portion of the pedal construction, taken through the mounting.

1 is the metal pedal, with the usual foot piece 2, and guard 3.

4 is the pedal prop connected with the pedal, at about its middle point, and 5 is the pedal lever. The inner end of the pedal is bifurcated at 7, and provided with the pivot pin 8 permanently and rigidly secured thereto, or made an integral part of the pedal. 9 is the fulcrum plate, or bracket, secured by screws 10 to the .inner frame of the piano case, at a convenient position inside the front casing 11. The upright portion 12 of the bracket 9 forms, with the separable block 13, the bearing for the pedal pivot.

In order that the wear of the parts may be reduced to a minimum, the support 12, and the block 13 are recessed out to form a pocket 14 around the pivot pin, except for a short distance at each end, so that the support for the pin is only at the ends. This recess 14 forms a convenient oil pocket, and an opening 15 is left at the top of the bearing for the application of the lubricant. The block 13, forming the half of the pivot bearing, is held in position by the set screw 16, while a washer of leather or other suitable material 17 embraces thepivot pin throughout its length. When the lubricant is introduced through the opening 15, the leather becomes saturated, and as the bearing for the pivot is only at the ends, a single lubrication will last indefinitely, so that all liability of squeaking at the joint is avoided. The edges of the leather washer extend up through the opening 15, and when saturated with the lubricant, if the edges are pressed together, the edges will adhere to prevent dust from accumulating between the washer and the pivot pin. While there will be very little wear be tween the bearing and the pivot pin, in the event there is any such wear, the same may Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a pedal mounting, the combination of a metal pedal bifurcated at its inner end, and carrying a pivot pin rigid with the pedal, a divided bearing for the pin, comprising a fulcrum plate secured to the piano casing, and a separable block with screw for securing and adjusting the separate block, said bearing being cut away around the pivot pin to permit engagement only at the ends, with a leather washer interposed between the pivot pin and bearing.

2. In a pedal mounting, the combination of a metal pedal, and a metal fulcrum block, the metal. pedal bifurcated at its inner end, and carrying a pivot pin rigid with the pedal thereon, the fulcrum support being divided vertically at the point of bearing, with a separable block forming half of the pivot bearing, a recess formed in the bearing around the pin to serve as an oil holder, and a leather washer surrounding the pin, to prevent metal contact of the pivoted parts, and to absorb the oil applied to the recess.

OTTO LESTINA.

WVitnesses:

GLnNA PRITCHARD, CHARLES W. HOFFMAN.

be taken up by tightening the set screw 16. 

